Just saw a Mountain Lion tonight by my house at 6:20pm. As the road turned I saw it from the shoulders back going into the creek from the side of the road. I jumped outta the car with my spot light and camera but I was too late. (Under a minute total!) I saw a log going across the creek, so it must have ran across that. So close!!! Nick

About time for me to start coming back to the forum... hockey has been keeping me occupied lately

Owen - I can't tell if the wound on that dead muley was on the lower abdomen or the rear end. If it was the former, and abdominal cavity was cleared out, that's a definite lion kill. If it was the rear end, that's a coyote kill. Canines are known for starting from the end and working their way up, while the characteristic feeding habits ofP. concolor is the face and chest cavity first, then clearing out the entire abdomen.

Jim - Those aren't raccoon lol, look like house cat. From the picture, it looks like the feet of the culprit were muddy; if so, five "toes" would have shown up, along with claw marks most likely (this will not show up in cat tracks).

As far as wild cats are concerned, I have only seen bobcats. I did find cougar tracks once. I also have to see a wild bear (Yosemite bears don't count IMHO) but I have found bear scat, here in Shasta County and up in Oregon near Crater Lake (and of course Yosemite)

I've seen just about all the land mammals there is in CA I suppose except for porcupine and fisher. I would have to do a good scan of the list to be certain. Is there anything else obscure like the porcupine that might be more of a challenge to come across?

I've seen just about all the land mammals there is in CA I suppose except for porcupine and fisher. I would have to do a good scan of the list to be certain. Is there anything else obscure like the porcupine that might be more of a challenge to come across?

Pine Marten (Martes americana)Side note on these; they're in Western PA and notoriously hard to find there, wouldn't be surprised if one were to go their whole life without seeing one on luck alone

I've seen just about all the land mammals there is in CA I suppose except for porcupine and fisher. I would have to do a good scan of the list to be certain. Is there anything else obscure like the porcupine that might be more of a challenge to come across?

Pine Marten (Martes americana)Side note on these; they're in Western PA and notoriously hard to find there, wouldn't be surprised if one were to go their whole life without seeing one on luck alone

Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis)

Have you seen any Sierra-Nevada bighorn sheep?

I've seen Marten, and have seen Big Horn in two states CA and AZ. Haven't been to the islands, but thanks for mentioning the fox. If I ever get up there I'll be on the look out.

I've seen just about all the land mammals there is in CA I suppose except for porcupine and fisher. I would have to do a good scan of the list to be certain. Is there anything else obscure like the porcupine that might be more of a challenge to come across?

Pine Marten (Martes americana)Side note on these; they're in Western PA and notoriously hard to find there, wouldn't be surprised if one were to go their whole life without seeing one on luck alone

Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis)

Have you seen any Sierra-Nevada bighorn sheep?

I've seen Marten, and have seen Big Horn in two states CA and AZ. Haven't been to the islands, but thanks for mentioning the fox. If I ever get up there I'll be on the look out.

I had figured you've probably seen a Bighorn before. You're lucky you got to see a Marten!

Much to my surprise, the Pronghorns were part of a re-introduction program. Not certain when they did it, but I believe that it was about 10 years ago. They were introduced into the San Antonio Valley, in the Diablo Range....just over the hills from where Owen spotted his.

Here's the Pronghorn from the Silver Creek Hills (San Jose) in the mid-1990's:

I drove home to get my camera when I saw it. It moved across the road and some folks with a big old camcorder were filming it as well when I returned. It seemed to not mind me too much, but I did have a 500mm lens on the camera.

There are some in the San Antonio Valley, maybe even San Felipe Ranch on the SJ side of thngs. I believe they were re-introduced about 30 years ago or so.